FACULTY

Faculty

The Multi-Arts faculty includes professional artists and teachers from the Pioneer Valley, New York and abroad. Leaders in visual arts, theater, dance, fashion, music, and film, these internationally renowned artists provide a unique multicultural experience. They also inspire children with their passion, enthusiasm, and humor.

CATALINA ARRUBLA - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Catalina is the founder and Executive Director of Multi-Arts. She was formerly the director of the publications department of the Ministry of Culture in Colombia, her native country. Catalina is also a professional oboist and oboe teacher, and directs chamber music ensembles.

JULIO NEIJENS - ART
Julio is an artist mainly focused on oil painting and drawing. He has worked as head carpenter and painter in theater productions in Chicago, as well as a set designer in opera productions in Massachusetts. Also, for two years, Julio worked with the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, making play items for the animals to help keep them healthy and active! He is the art director and teacher of Multi-Arts, and will lend his expertise in set & prop making, and artistic direction for the play.

MAIA KINNEY-PETRUCHA - THEATER
Maia is a children’s playwright and theater educator based in New York City and Amherst, Massachusetts. Her background in cognitive science drives her love for theatrical research, and for the power theater have to heal and foster empathy through storytelling. She believes that collaboration between young and adult artists is vital for inspiring new ideas. She is passionate about exploring how theater and in all art expressions can spark change.

JOSH GOLD - DANCE & MIME &
BLACK LIGHT THEATER
Josh is a lead counselor and teacher at Multi-Arts. His specialties include hip hop / funk dance, mime, blacklight (glow-in-the-dark) costumes and games, and multi-media arts and crafts. Josh teaches during the school year at the Easthampton Elementary Schools for a 21st Century Community Learning Center program through the Colla-borative for Educational Services.

DARLA STABLER - FASHION & WRITING
Darla has been teaching with Multi-Arts since 2017. Her classes often focus on fashion and improv, and she also enjoys drawing, sculpture, and writing. Darla also works with children at Clinical & Support Options' Bridge Family Resource Center in Amherst, nannies toddlers, volunteers at a sleep-away camp for foster kids, and organizes with the Pioneer Valley Childcare Collective.

MAUREEN SHEA - DANCE &
HEAD COUNSELOR
Maureen has been teaching creative contemporary dance for children since 1984. She led Grasshoppa Dance classes for children for ten years, as well as recently directing the amateur theatre group, ‘Hilltowners Playing’, both in the Hilltown of Western Mass. Maureen is the Co-Chair of the Hadley Cultural Council. She is pursuing a Masters degree in dance at l’Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM).

DOMINIC RODGERS - THEATER
An actor, theater-maker, and long time student of the arts, Dominic is excited to be joining Multi-Arts this summer. Hailing from Amherst and Hadley originally, Dominic now pursues a degree in theater from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota.

MIRIAM CARRY - CIRCUS
Miriam is studying philosophy, clown, and performance art at Hampshire College. She has been working as a teaching assistant at the Early Learning Center on Hampshire campus for the past two years. Throughout her various teaching experiences exploring improv, Shakespeare, and children's theater games, Miriam has developed an affirming and individualized approach to performance. In her free time she will often wander the world as a clown.

MARIE BOYER - ART ASSISTANT
Marie is an artist from Western Canada. She studied painting and drawing in Florida and Seattle before moving to The Pioneer Valley in 2018. She loves exploring all kinds of art with kids as an activity leader at the Collaborative for Educational Services’ 21st Century After School Program in Easthampton. Marie strives to empower and affirm every young artist she works with.

MADELEINE NEIMAN- ASSISTANT TO DIRECTOR
Maddie is a senior at Indiana University, pursuing a degree in Arts Management with minors in Studio Art and Urban Development. She currently works as an ESL tutor, using art and play to communicate with her students. Her involvement with Multi-Arts started over a decade ago as a camper, and today Madeleine works assisting the Director in several administrative tasks.

MANUELA ROJAS - COUNSELOR &
HEAD TEACHER
Manuela is a student at the Westfield University studying Social Work. She loves dancing, ceramics, and fashion design. She has worked for several years at Multi-Arts as a counselor and head teacher.

ISABEL ARANGO VILLEGAS - MUSIC & SPANISH
Isabel has experience teaching music and vocal technique to all ages as well as music introduction to toddlers. She is bilingual and also has experience teaching both English and Spanish. She believes that children learn through play, that art is an essential part of life and that it is for everyone.

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DONATE

Multi-Arts is a non-profit organization.
Donations and volunteers
are always welcome!

Your donation will support:

the Multi-Arts Scholarship Fund -- which provides financial aid to children from low income families who love the arts and want to be at Multi-Arts.
the Art Exhibitions Program -- which displays year round the children's art work in hospitals, libraries, cultural institutions, and many other public places.

​Faculty

Faculty